Grant Recipient Highlight: Boys & Girls Club

Loving on our local community is something that we cherish. From our annual donations from Blackberry Farm Foundation to seeking opportunities to serve, we are honored to support local organizations that leave a lasting impact on our community. Since 2015, we have had the privilege of donating our time and money to the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley in Blount County.

Established in 2003, the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley has provided a safe place for children grades kindergarten through twelfth grade. Focusing on academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character and citizenship, their mission is to enable all children to reach their full potential. From after-school programs to summer programs, each child has the opportunity to explore their interests and discover their passions.

With the generosity and passion of Blackberry’s guests and team members, we have donated more than $150,000 since our partnership began in 2015. Those funds have supported outdoor garden projects, snacks and meals for summer and holiday school breaks, kitchen equipment and more.

We are also proud of our team for serving the organization with their time. Blackberry Farm Executive Chefs Cassidee Dabney and Sarah Steffan, often joined by members of their culinary teams, have been visiting Boys & Girls Club of Blount County for six years, spending time with the kids and sharing their love of food. During these visits, chefs Cassidee and Sarah teach useful cooking skills, aid in hands-on demonstrations to practice them, and plant the seed of creating a connection with the ingredients on their plates that makes a lasting impact.

On February 14, chefs Cassidee and Sarah returned to Boys & Girls Club of Blount County to continue their tradition of learning and laughter with the children who benefit from the organization. From working in the garden planted with help from Blackberry to time in the kitchen, the chefs instill a love of and relationship with fresh grown ingredients, and the cook within every kid, that totally changes the way some of the children think about food. Read more in this article in The Daily Times.